The oldest living Major Leaguer

Former Dodger infielder Tony Malinosky will be honored in pregame ceremonies prior to Saturday night’s game. The Oxnard resident, who appeared in 35 games with the 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers, will celebrate his 100th birthday on Monday. He is the oldest living former Major League player.

“Tony’s in a great mood today,” reports Beth Lango, Tony’s niece. “He woke up singing, ‘It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame.”

And here’s tonight’s lineup:

Furcal, SS

Pierre, CF

Kemp, RF

Manny, LF

Blake, 3B

Loney, 1B

Hudson, 2B

Martin, C

Kershaw, P

Let’s hope this is the one that win’s the NL West!

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Great!! Your batters 3-6 go 0 for 16 and you punish the one guy who actually hit the ball last night by benching him. Nice Joe……………….real nice. Sit Manny’s assss down. He does it to Andre, Matt and James when they aren’t hitting so why not him too. BTW – it’s not like JP lit it up last night on his chance either.

Just great – NOT!!! TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE!!!
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However, if memory serves, it seems like the majority of the times we’ve complained about the line-up, the team wins . . . just saying, there’s always a chance! After all, they ARE the Dodgers🙂

Got to head to work, but I have my family at the game tonight, hopefully they get to see some fireworks🙂 Regardless of the lineup, I’ve got a feeling… so I’ll let the Beatles say it for me, since they said it best:

I’ve Got a Feeling by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
From the “Let it Be” album, in stores now

I started to point out that Joe’s playing the percentages with Ethier tonight (“Oh really? No S#$t?”) but rather than point out the obvious, I’ll say KEEP THE FAITH!!!! Tracey is a good manager, I wouldn’t mind at all if he were still with us, but we’ll see tonight who beats up on who.

I am so pissed right now I can barely type. How can Joe sit Andre, who has had so many game winning hits this season, and was the only one that played a good game last night in a game when they could potentially clinch the division title? He has more than earned to be in the lineup of that happens. It is so beyond insulting. So Manny gets rewarded for striking out 4 times last night? Andre should be in there without question and on an individual level Joe has taken away any chance he has to get back to at least the high .270’s before the end of the season. What a complete joke.

Agreed, Nelly ): I thought for sure he would be in there tonight regardless of the pitcher. I am so sick of these throw the names in a hat and see what comes up lineups. Tonight of all nights it should be all the starters in there.

bluecrewgirl – This is just so wrong beyond words at this point. One of a few guys who has carried this team from day one is being benched for God knows what reason. I guess he’s the manager…………….that’s why. I am guessing he will get in the game and be part of the end of the game, but the way Torre goes about game situations, you just never know if the opportunity will come up for sure. So, why take the chance?

Nelly, I’m sure as usual Joe is playing the numbers game and he’s sitting because he hasn’t hit De La Rosa well, but now at this point in the season is not the time to play the numbers and mess with the confidence and rhythm of one of the key players.

Shad – it shouldn’t matter that he has played more games against lefties this year. This is the second to last game, and he should be playing, period. He is the RBI and HR leaders who should be playing if not for his hitting, at least for his glove. Rest him tomorrow after we have clinched the division.

This is so freaking weird. The Nats leading the series 3-0 vs the Braves in Atlanta. The Brewers beat the Cards twice in St. Louis and to bad they couldn’t beat the Rockies and look at the Phillies losing twice to the Marlins in Philly.

All 3 teams look like they are cold at the wrong team and the Rockies are hot. I just don’t understand how you can change coach and Tracy Rockies are like 71-35 and when they had Hudler that was like 20-30 and was 15 1/2 out and Hudler took this team to the WS after a hot stretch that gave them the WC spot.

Hi ITD
First let me wish Tony Malinosky a Happy 100th birthday.
That’s quite an achievement.
He played the year before I was born.
Well another try at winning a baseball game.
The last game the Dodgers won was a week ago today, which I guess everybody knows.
I’m watching on MLB network, I don’t think I ever saw them win on that channel before.
COME ON DODGERS WIN!!!!!!

Well I will be watching on MLB network as soon as the Tiger/Whitesox game ends, unless the Tigers win and they show the celebration which doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
I’ll come back to Scully for the end of our game or if the Dodgers are losing.
Forget about it, I’m still here.

I agree Shad. He has been coming around against them and figuring things out. He always hit them well in he past prior to last season and I know he’ll figure it out. Baseball is a game of adjustments. It would be sweet if had the walk off winning hit as a pinch hitter tonight.

Blah at the awful grammar I’m so nervous tonight. Ok guys the Rockies catcher Ianetta can’t thrown out base runners at a rate of 27.7% so please Furcal, Pierre and Kemp and if you guys get on please run often.

WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!
WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!! WE WANT ANDRE!!!

But Dodgers manager Joe Torre gave Ethier a vote of confidence before Friday night’s game when asked if he would consider sitting Ethier against a tough lefty in the playoffs.

“No. He’s a player,” said Torre, who often raves about Ethier’s talent.
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So, why again, is Andre not starting tonight? Oh, I forgot……….. because JP needs playing time too (or Manny………I am not sure who should be playing between the two of them).

Wow – a line drive right to Blake. It looked like the kind of bad luck the Dodgers have had for the past week. Nice to see the Dodgers finally get some good luck for a change. It has been hard waiting a week to win just one game but I knew it had to happen sooner or later.

I told my daughter to come over my house to go out and eat about 3 hours earlier if the Dodgers lost tonight, so I can come home in time to see the start of the game.
I’ll tell her tomorrow to forget about it and come at the regular time.
LET’S POP THE CORK.

Superstition revealed: In March I bought a photo of Koufax throwing his 1963 no hitter(vs Giants) had it framed, and it hung in the front room watching the TV as I watched the Dodgers, After the last Giants series the picture that previously was there was returned and koufax went to another location, well enough of that after last night loss, I placed the photo back where it was this morning, I didnt want to make that the crazy superstition, but I couldn’t let this go on without trying something to get blue mojo going. So Lets pass the shots and give a loud shout: Go Dodgers NL Divsion winners!

im excited and happy. What i really enjoyed watching in this game was the fact the Juan Pierre started this game and finished the game. He contributed today; he has a big factor why the dodgers are champions.

Congrats to the Dodgers and congrats to all of us on ITD! They finally did it! That was one of the worst weeks of my life waiting for them to clinch. oldbrooklynfan the champagne taste great.
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I’m so pumped I’m flying 3000 miles to LA to see games 1 & 2. The best thing about this win is that it saves me $300 I don’t have to change my plane reservations.

Thank-you, Dodgers, for giving your fans another Division Championship. I think since it was not exactly a cake-walk the past few weeks, it will make us stronger in the playoffs.
I LOVE L.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THE DODGERS!!!!!!

Just so you know……………….We had to sit in a room with a bottle of Andre Champagne on one side of my piano, the Dodger Gnome in the middle and, yes, a gnat hat on the other end (My son’s hat nonetheless) because my son was just being a typical gnat fan. It is a great feeling to know we are still in this thing and the gnats last day is tomorrow.

TBW, I’m very excited for you! Have a great trip and I hope you can bring us luck!

Junie, I think you ought to drench that Gnathat is champagne tonight for two reasons: One, it’s probably the only time it will experience it and, Two, every time Michael smells the champagne it will remind him what we were celebrating.

On a different subject, you know there’s a rule that grants the official scorer the power to take a win from a relief pitcher who may technically qualify for a win but was ineffective. For example, Broxton has a couple of “Blown Wins” this year. I bring this up because – taking nothing away from Kuo, who pitched a perfect 7th – Kershaw should be awarded this win. I say a rules change is in order.

I wish all these people I’m listening to would stop talking about this “first time back-to-back division titles” stuff. We lost the Series in both of those years. When I think of ’77 and ’78, I don’t celebrate two straight division crowns. We didn’t finish the job either time.

Congrats to everybody!!
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Before the game tonight I was thinking how could I send some positive vibes & luck so I bought a bottle of champagne.
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Well Wifey & I actually popped some champagne and sprayed a little outside. That was fun. It’s been a tough week but hopefully things are turning the corner!
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I posted this before the game but I’m not sure if any saw it. I think it’s fitting.
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Watch & enjoy…
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dodgereric – LOL!!!!! That thought did pass through our minds, but we didn’t open the Champagne. We are saving it for the ring celebration instead🙂 However, we actually thought of changing the arrangement and putting the bottle and the gnome right next to the hat, with the gnomes behind facing the hat, but I am worried about jinxing it now. What do you think?

As for Kersh – I think he certainly deserves the win. I didn’t know the scorekeeper had that power.

If you ask me Nelly — keep it the way you had it.
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Tonight I found out my Mom fell down the stairs last night & hurt her knee and wrist. This was just as I got home from work & after the 1st inning and was just sitting down to have dinner. She said she was okay but needed an ice pack & some more pain medication as she had left them in her car. She had already taken one so she was good for awhile & it wasn’t an emergency.
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I ate my dinner & then didn’t want to move as Kersh was cruising. I’m not a bad Son. Just a superstitious one. Wifey told me she’d hold down the fort until I returned. But I didn’t want to move from where I was sitting. So after eating I was going to leave to tend to her & that was about when Kersh gave up the 1st hit, so I felt I could bolt.
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When I returned from getting my Mom some dinner, as after I got there I found out she hadn’t eaten, as well as tending to her injuries, & going to Sport Mart to buy more ice packs for Wifey’s injury, seeing as our ice packs went to my Mom, the game was still at 0-0!
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The Collie family has injury issues!!!
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& Collie has superstitious issues!

We had Dodge1612 in the house with us as well. So, I think the Dodger Gods were working extra hard tonight to get us a win. He is driving back to Sacramento tonight and then onto Fairfield in the morning to his new church where he is a youth pastor.

Amen, lbirken, amen! Tonight’s for celebrating, but we haven’t finished the job until we get 11 more wins.

Shad, I know. Kuo gets the win, that’s the rule. There’s no rule that says otherwise. I’m just saying, since there IS a rule that can take AWAY a win from a pitcher that qualifies for it but doesn’t deserve it, there should be a rule that GIVES a win to a pitcher who doesn’t qualify for it but DOES deserve it, such as Kershaw tonight. If that explosion happens in the 6th instead of the 7th, he gets the win. And that would be justice. It just shows exactly how meaningless a pitchers’ won/loss record can be.

BTW, even though I haven’t seen that rule enforced in a long time, here it is:

10.17 (c) The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/10_the_official_scorer.pdf

Nelly ~ Watching on the computer and seeing the fans celebrate when the Dodgers score is exciting. But to think that I’ll be there in person, it’s mind boggling. I just want to sing Randy Newman’s I love L A in person.

All I have to say is “Whew”! I would have liked to see this Friday night since I was at that game but I am glad the Dodgers finally got the job done and while this past week was certainly maddening for all of us it was kind of nice to do it in front of the home fans. This win will help wipe out all that frustration. The real season starts Wednesday. Bring on the Cardinals.

Junie, I admire Michael for his diligence, but not good taste or judgement.🙂

32, I just fired up my DVR recording and watched the bottom of the third when Schaffer got ran. Russell Martin started his at-bat with one out, squaring to bunt. The pitch was low and inside, it almost hit him. He appeared to pull the bat back in time, but it was called a strike. Martin gave it the ol’ “Did you call it a strike?” look but went on with his business and eventually struck out swinging. As he walked back to the dugout he had his head turned, saying something to the ump, but he had a little smile on his face.

However, Kershaw was up next. He took a ball and then a low strike, right at the knees. The third pitch was at least 6 inches lower and was also called a strike. A horrible call, but hardly game-turning with two out, no one on and the pitcher hitting in the third inning. Anyway, I think Schaffer was still upset about that first pitch to Martin because the camera caught him yelling, “BULL-you-know-what” with Scully saying “Fertilizer”. That got him run.

I think most of the regulars will get one at bat tomorrow and then Torre will pull them off the field to get ovations in the 2nd or 3rd inning. I hope Ellis gets his first career hit tomorrow……….and I’m kinda mad we didn’t recall Mitch Jones…….we had space on the roster. Although Wade, Leach, and Stults didn’t even get called up either!

Jeez, I’m talking to myself here, so I’ll go. But one more little gripe on this evening of relief.

Something I’m glad I can stop listening to is this supposed ‘record’ that the Rockies were about to set – you know – the Largest Deficit Ever Overcome. Granted, their comeback was impressive. But it was JUNE. The ‘51 Giants started their comeback in AUGUST. And that was in a 154-game season. You can’t even compare the two.

Tracy was the bitten by almost Shakespearean tragedy tonight as he goes all out to win a division………only to lose his stud lefty–and the game–in the process. As for Dodgerville, all is well in the land of Oz.

Shad, I know. Kuo gets the win, that’s the rule. There’s no rule that says otherwise. I’m just saying, since there IS a rule that can take AWAY a win from a pitcher that qualifies for it but doesn’t deserve it, there should be a rule that GIVES a win to a pitcher who doesn’t qualify for it but DOES deserve it, such as Kershaw tonight. If that explosion happens in the 6th instead of the 7th, he gets the win. And that would be justice. It just shows exactly how meaningless a pitchers’ won/loss record can be.

Wow really they can take Kuo win away? I know it does consider that Kuo only face 4 batter and got 3 outs. So how many wins does Broxton have for real? 1 or 2?

Thanks BCG. She is okay but needs to go to the hospital to get looked at. She’s 82 and fell all the way down her stairs. But she won’t go to the DR. I guess now my Wife knows where I get it from.😉
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Hopefully we can get her to go in tomorrow. I work all day and Wifey is laid up as well. I’m going to leave work early to get her to go.

De La Rosa has a “tight left groin and will be evaluated”. Probably not serious as they don’t have Conte as a trainer.

No, they can’t take the win away from Kuo. He was the pitcher of record when the Dodgers scored the go-ahead run. There isn’t any rule that can do what I suggested. I just think there should be. I guess that would open the door to a lot more interpretation of wins and losses and they don’t want to do that.

Now, to talk about what I posted earlier. The rule: “The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer.”

Not to pick on Broxton, but just to use him as an example. He has two “Blown Wins” this season – a combination Blown Save/Win.

On April 28th against the Giants, he entered the game in the 8th inning trying to protect a 3 – 2 lead. Billingsley started the 8th and gave up a single, got an out and then a walk. Billz gave way to Brox, trying for a 5-out save. He walked the first batter to load the bases, got a force at home for the second out and then walked in the tying run. He got the last out, but Billingsley’s win was out the window. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the ninth, hitting for Brox in the process. That made him the pitcher of record and in line for the win. Will Ohman came in to pitch the ninth and got the save.

May 14th in Philly, he did it again. Again, Billingsley was the victim. He went out after 7, leading 2 – 1. Wade pitched a perfect 8th. The Dodgers got an insurance run in the top of the ninth and Brox came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th. Two quick strikeouts, then a single and a walk and a two-run double tied the game. He got the final out, but Billz’ win was gone again. The Dodgers scored twice in the top of the 10th, making Brox in line for the win again. Troncoso pitched the ninth, getting two outs, hit a batter and then got the last out for the save.

In reading Rule 10.17(c) further, there is a Comment in there: “The official scorer generally should, but is not required to, consider the appearance of a relief pitcher to be ineffective and brief if such relief pitcher pitches less than one inning and allows two or more earned runs to score (even if such runs are charged to a previous pitcher).”

So, I guess the official scorer has an out in both instances. In the April game, Brox pitched less than an inning, but only gave up one run and it wasn’t even charged to him. But he was ineffective and blew the save. In the May game he gave up two of his own runs and was very ineffective, but pitched a complete inning. Even though the phrase “should, but is not required to, consider” is in there, the official scorer is within the rules in giving Brox those wins. But I wouldn’t have. I would have given them to Ohman and Troncoso because Brox didn’t deserve them.

OK, to bed with me. May God Bless all of you and let’s cheer our boys on to 11 playoff victories!!!

Maybe now with that monkey off their backs the boys can play to their capabilities. And a hearty WELL DONE to Kershaw who stepped up his game a notch to be the stopper when the team needed him most.

Had they lost yesterday and today it would’ve been the most monumental collapse in sports history. Now all will be forgotten and Joe comes out smelling like a rose. He’s still a pisspoor manager in my book, and if not for the total ineptitude of the Cards and Phils, homefield would’ve been lost. Maybe not a big thing against the Phils, but certainly against the Cards.

Clean slate now, so goodluck and let’s bring a championship back to L.A.

CONGRATULATIONS Dodgers, as well as to all fellow ITD’ers.
We’ve pulled together this whole season, and the best record in the NL is a great TEAM achievement. I say TEAM in spite of media spin to somehow make it a validation for Manny. Do you ever see a milestone win represented in the papers with someone else’s picture other than Manny’s?
I still think it was a mistake to sign him, to pay him the amount of money in question, and to commit to him for yet another year at huge dollars that could have gone to pay equitably one or two of our youngsters to guarantee their future on our ballclub.

Nonetheless, I hope that Manny can return to his post-season prowess of years gone by. He’s certainly being paid for it. As most of us here know, he’s not going to carry us very far by himself, so I’m wishing our deserving young players to establish themselves on the post-season stage – come on Kersh and Bills, Andre and Matt, Loney and hopefully Martin, as well as Brox. The road to big dollar stakes (like Manny’s) may start for you on Wednesday. I’ve loved you all as Dodgers – I hope you stay with the Blue for many years to come. Thank you for this season, and Good Luck to you all in the playoffs.

Way to go team!! We definately have a special group of kids and I too, hope we can keep them together for many years to come. Thanks Josh and the Dodgers for this great forum to discuss and cuss (LOL) our team!!! Just an aside, but I just checked out the Phillies blog. First time I have ever gone to another teams site. Wow, no posts on alot of them and only one or two on most!! We really have a something going on here!! I guess that is why Phan and others seem compelled to come to our blog and post. No one to chat with over there. Very sad, but still not a license to come here and be derisive!!! I’m psyched for the playoffs and want to Thank You All for another fun season of chatting/blogging. It really is alot more fun to share the Dodger experience with other avid fans. Thanks again, it has been a pleasure.

Good Morning ITD, Dodger Faithful and Our Beloved Boy’s in Blue…….
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Eric thanks for the history lesson…..Collie tell wifey and your mom I wish them a very speedy recovery, and to be careful out there. Bear very nice post indeed.
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All I want to say is that I am so proud of these guy’s. It has been a long season and each and everyone of them have had ups and downs along the way, to reach this milestone on the road to our Quest for # 7 is enjoyable. After the way this ball club came out of spring training fired up playing like a team on a mission this was the only way to finish the regular season….No other way would of fit in my mind. Thank You Gentlemen…….
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That being said…. This is what we came to camp for this year, to be in this position at this part of the season. You guy’s have the saying that it is not how you start but how you finish….Although I believe that the way this ball club started it made every other club, step it up or get lost in the shuffle. Nevertheless we are just one of the chosen few now…..One of the elite. Going out last night fired up and playing the way we all know you are capable of is indeed what we need to see in the post season. You took the momentum that the red hot Rockies brought into our house and put it where it belongs….In our dug-out on our side of the game and that is defenetly the right way to win ball games. Go out and play hard keep the fun in the game, obtain the momentum at all times, and continue to make the magic…..
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GO DODGERS GO!!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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BEAT THE ROCKIES TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enchanted……Your back🙂
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Tru …. I have some champagne and orange juice, believe we drank all the gin……
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Kemp is batting .298…. I am doing my best to will him over .300……WE BELIEVE MATT!!!!!!
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Afternoon again everyone……

Who is this enchanted guy? I was really happy last night that Joe’s small ball (FINALLY!!!!!!!) led to five runs, a stinking plethora for this team, lately. Maybe Joe will bless us with more of the same.

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